Separation of Zein in a Dry-grind Ethanol Plant

In the next few years, production of fuel-grade ethanol is expected to increase dramatically. The new ethanol production capacity will increase the supply-and decrease the price-of co-product streams. Zein is a potentially important co-product that could become interesting as a polymer raw material if it can be economically recovered. The purpose of this project--and the key breakthrough needed to make this process feasible--is to develop high flux, ultrafiltration membranes to economically separate and concentrate zein from ethanol/water extracts.